Thursday, December 15, 2011

Smart Phone Aps

Mt. 2: 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.(NIV)

On Monday night I was privileged to sit beside Pastor Mark Lehmann, of Cornerstone Assembly of God in Bowie, Maryland. If you have ever wondered what preachers talk about when they sit together, let me assure you it is a very wide and diverse series of topics. Just one, was comparing smart phone applications. Pastor Mark shared one that enabled you to raise your smart phone to any place and it would display and give you the names of the stars, constellations, and even satellites that were in the area. I quickly downloaded it, and had fun playing with it. Living with so much light pollution, it is hard to fully enjoy a star filled sky, but this was not the case for the three kings who travelled from Persia to Bethlehem to see the birth of the King of all Kings. They didn't have this smart phone app., to point at the star and be told what it was or what its purpose was, or what sign it was signaling. The star of Bethlehem was set apart, unique and had one purpose. That purpose was to signal the birth of the King of the Universe. Once the three Kings found what the star was signaling, their worship was pointed to the King of Kings. At least once this December, go outside at night, away from the city, and just look up and be awed at the mystery of stars.

Lord, move us, awaken us, alert us to love you, others and life as we simultaneously remember your first coming, and prepare for your second. In Jesus name, amen